JP6881340B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In an image forming apparatus typified by a multifunction device, an image of a document is read by an image reading unit, and then light is applied to a photoconductor provided in the image forming unit based on the read image on the photoconductor. Form an electrostatic latent image. Then, a charged toner is supplied onto the formed electrostatic latent image to obtain a visible image, and then the toner is transferred to paper to be fixed and output to the outside of the apparatus.

Here, techniques related to so-called energy saving (energy saving) of an image forming apparatus are disclosed in JP-A-2007-65255 (Patent Document 1) and JP-A-2009-90470 (Patent Document 2).

The power monitoring system for the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a power monitoring device for monitoring the power consumption of the image forming apparatus via a network. The power monitoring system of the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has an energy saving mode in which the power consumption of the image forming apparatus is lower than that in a normal state and an energy saving mode in which the image forming apparatus shifts to the energy saving mode when the image forming apparatus is not used for a certain period of time or longer. A monitoring means that provides a transition time and an energy saving mode canceling means for canceling the energy saving mode, and monitors the usage status of the image forming device for a certain period of time in the power monitoring device, and a storage means for storing the monitoring result by the monitoring means. , The power consumption calculation means for calculating the power consumption for a certain period and the energy saving mode transition time are temporarily set based on the monitoring result stored in the storage means, and the temporary energy saving mode transition time and the storage means are temporarily set. It is characterized by being equipped with a temporary power consumption calculation means for calculating virtual power consumption based on the contents of the monitoring result stored in.

The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 shifts the image forming means for forming an image based on the received print information and the apparatus itself to a preset power saving mode when a predetermined transition period elapses. It is provided with a transition means, a calculation means for calculating the occurrence frequency of processing related to image formation by the image forming means, and a change means for changing the predetermined transition period according to the occurrence frequency calculated by the calculation means. It is a feature.

JP-A-2007-65255 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-90470

In the above technology, the usage status within a certain period is confirmed, and the transition time to the energy saving mode is changed according to the usage status. However, with this, the device is not used at regular intervals like a multifunction device or printer, and for those that are used irregularly, appropriate settings are made without long-term confirmation. I can't. For example, if there is a time zone in which printing is concentrated and a time zone in which printing is rarely performed, energy saving is achieved in a time zone in which printing intervals are long, but in a time zone in which printing is concentrated, the transition time to the energy saving mode is achieved. Is shortened with respect to the printing interval, which makes it so-called inconvenient for the user. Further, when the user simply sets the time for shifting to the energy saving mode, the influence between the transition time and the printing time cannot be grasped, so the time is set to the shortest. As a result, the printing time becomes long, and this is also a setting that the user is not satisfied with.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of realizing energy saving intended by a user.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a standby mode in which it stands by at the first power consumption and can immediately start image forming when an image forming request is received, and a power consumption lower than that of the first power consumption. It has a sleep mode in which it takes a longer time than the standby mode to start image formation if it waits and accepts a request for image formation. The sleep mode waits with a second power consumption that is less than the first power consumption, and if an image formation request is received, a return priority mode that takes a longer time than the standby mode to start image formation and a second mode It includes an energy saving priority mode in which it takes a longer time than the return priority mode to start image formation if the image formation request is received by waiting with a third power consumption less than the power consumption of the above.

The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a display unit, a storage unit, a first receiving unit, a display control unit, a second receiving unit, and a setting unit. The fixing portion includes a heating roller that is heated to a predetermined temperature to fix the toner image on the paper. The display unit displays information. The storage unit stores information on the return priority mode and information on the energy saving priority mode. The first receiving unit receives the input of the expected image formation interval. When the display control unit receives the input of the image formation interval expected by the first receiving unit, the display control unit displays the information on the return priority mode stored in the storage unit at the image formation interval and the information on the energy saving priority mode. Control to display in the section. The second accepting unit receives the selection input of the transition time from the standby mode in the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode displayed on the display unit by the display control unit to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode. The setting unit sets the transition time from the standby mode received by the second receiving unit to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode. The storage unit contains information on the return priority mode and information on the energy saving priority mode, such as information on the transition time from the standby mode, information on the power consumption value derived from the transition time and the interval between image formation, and the time required for image formation. The information of each is memorized. The image forming apparatus further includes a performance reflecting unit that reflects the results of the transition time information, the power consumption value information, and the time information required for image formation in the image forming apparatus in the information stored in the storage unit.

According to such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to realize the energy saving intended by the user.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multifunction device when the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is applied to the multifunction device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of processing when the sleep mode is set in the multifunction device shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the drawings below, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numbers, and the explanations are not repeated.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a multifunction device when the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the multifunction device. With reference to FIG. 1, the multifunction device 11 has a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function in relation to image processing.

The multifunction device 11 has a standby mode and a sleep mode. The standby mode is a mode in which image formation can be started immediately after waiting at the first power consumption and receiving a request for image formation. Specifically, for example, it is a state in which electric power is supplied to keep the backlight of the display screen 21 described later on, and the temperature of the thermal roller 24 described later is kept at a fixable temperature. The sleep mode is a mode in which it takes a longer time than the standby mode to start image formation if it waits with a power consumption less than the first power consumption and receives a request for image formation. Specifically, the backlight of the display screen 21 is turned off, and the temperature of the heat roller 24 is set to be lower than the temperature at which the heat roller 24 can be fixed.

The sleep mode further has a return priority mode and an energy saving priority mode. The return priority mode is a mode in which it takes a longer time than the standby mode to start image formation if it waits with a second power consumption less than the first power consumption and receives a request for image formation. Further, the energy saving priority mode is a mode in which it takes a longer time than the return priority mode to start image formation if it waits at a third power consumption less than the second power consumption and receives a request for image formation. .. That is, the return priority mode consumes more power than the energy saving priority mode, and the time required to start image formation is short.

The multifunction device 11 is a network interface for connecting a control unit 12, an operation unit 13, an image reading unit 14, an image forming unit 15, a paper feed cassette 16, a hard disk 17 as a storage unit, and a network 26. A unit 18 is provided. The control unit 12 includes a main storage memory 19 that temporarily stores data, and is composed of a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC, an MCU, or the like. The control unit 12 functions as a reception unit 31 or the like, which will be described later, by executing the control program stored in the ROM or the main storage memory 19 by the processor, and controls the entire multifunction device 11. It should be noted that each of the above-mentioned components of the control unit 12 may be configured by a hardware circuit, regardless of the operation based on the above-mentioned control program.

The operation unit 13 receives input from the user regarding image formation such as the number of image formation copies, that is, image formation conditions such as the number of print copies and gradation. The operation unit 13 is provided with a sleep mode setting key for setting the sleep mode. The operation unit 13 functions as a first reception unit that receives an input of an expected image formation interval. Further, the operation unit 13 receives a second reception for selecting and inputting the transition time from the standby mode in the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode displayed on the display screen 21 by the display control unit 31 to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode. It also functions as a department. Further, the operation unit 13 also functions as a third reception unit that receives information display at intervals before and after the expected image formation interval for which input is received by the first reception unit. The operation unit 13 includes a display screen 21 as a display unit that displays information transmitted from the multifunction device 11 side and user input contents.

The image reading unit 14 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 22 as a document transporting device that transports a document set at a set position to a scanning position. The image reading unit 14 reads the image of the original set on the ADF 22 or the mounting table on which the original is placed. The paper cassette 16 can store a plurality of sheets of paper inside the paper cassette 16. The image forming unit 15 has, for example, a heat roller 24 that is heated to a fixable high temperature of 150 to 180 ° C., and includes a fixing unit 25 that fixes the formed toner image on the paper. The image forming unit 15 forms an image on the paper conveyed from the paper feed cassette 16 and prints it based on the image data of the original document read by the image reading unit 14 and the image data transmitted via the network 26. To do. The hard disk 17 stores data related to image formation, such as image data received via the network 26 and input image formation conditions. The hard disk 17 stores information regarding the return priority mode and information regarding the energy saving priority mode. The information on the return priority mode and the information on the energy saving priority mode are specifically derived from the information on the transition time from the standby mode and the interval between the transition time and the image formation for each of the return priority mode and the energy saving priority mode. Information on the power consumption value and information on the time required for image formation.

Further, the control unit 12 includes a display control unit 31 and a setting unit 32. When the display control unit 31 receives the input of the image formation interval expected by the first receiving unit, the display control unit 31 outputs the information regarding the return priority mode stored in the hard disk 17 at the image formation interval and the information regarding the energy saving priority mode. It is controlled to be displayed on the display screen 21. The setting unit 32 sets the transition time from the standby mode received by the second receiving unit to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode. These configurations will be described later.

Next, the flow of processing when the sleep mode is set in the multifunction device 11 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the sleep mode is set in the multifunction device shown in FIG.

At the same time, referring to FIG. 2, the user presses the sleep mode setting key in an attempt to set either the wakeup priority mode or the energy saving priority mode as the sleep mode. When the control unit 12 detects that the sleep mode setting key is pressed (YES in step S11 in FIG. 2, hereinafter, “step” is omitted), the operation unit 13 inputs the expected image formation interval. It functions as the first receiving unit for receiving. In this case, the display control unit 31 first displays a screen on the display screen 21 for inputting the scheduled print interval on the display screen 21 (S12). Here, specifically, the printing interval is input to, for example, 5 minutes according to the actual situation grasped by the user. When the display control unit 31 receives the input of the expected image formation interval by the first reception unit, that is, when the control unit 12 detects the input of the print interval (YES in S13), the display control unit 31 Controls to display the sleep mode setting screen on the display screen 21 (S14).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen 21 in this case. With reference to FIG. 3, on the display screen 21, the setting 41 displayed as "current setting: print interval 5 minutes", the information display area 42 indicating information, and "OK" are shown and pressed. The key 43 that shifts to the next screen by detecting is displayed. Further, on the display screen 21, keys 44 and 45 indicated as "<<" and ">>" are displayed. By detecting the pressing of the keys 44 and 45, the information in the setting 41 and the information display area 42 is switched. By looking at the display of the setting 41, the user can grasp that the current setting is "print interval 5 minutes" as the print interval input on the previous screen.

In the information display area 42, as information on the energy saving priority mode, information on the transition time from the standby mode, information on the power consumption value derived from the transition time and the interval between image formation, and information on the time required for image formation are stored. It is displayed. Specifically, as information on the energy saving priority mode, the power consumption when the transition time is 1 minute is 340 Wh, the printing time is 40 seconds, and the power consumption when the transition time is 2 minutes is 380 Wh, the printing time is 40 seconds, and the transition. The power consumption when the time is 3 minutes is 420 Wh, the printing time is 40 seconds, the power consumption when the transition time is 4 minutes is 460 Wh, the power consumption when the printing time is 20 seconds, and the transition time is 5 minutes is 500 Wh. It is information that the printing time is 10 seconds. Specifically, as information on the return priority mode, the power consumption when the transition time is 1 minute is 400 Wh, the printing time is 15 seconds, and the power consumption when the transition time is 2 minutes is 420 Wh, and the printing time is 15 seconds. The power consumption when the transition time is 3 minutes is 440 Wh, the print time is 15 seconds, the power consumption when the transition time is 4 minutes is 460 Wh, the power consumption when the print time is 12 seconds, and the transition time is 5 minutes. The information is 500 Wh and the printing time is 10 seconds.

The user sees the information displayed on the display screen 21 and sets the sleep mode. That is, when the area displaying the transition time information to be selected in either the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode displayed in the information display area 42 of the display screen 21 is pressed, the area changes to the reverse display and the selected state. become. Then, in the selected state, the key 43 is pressed to set the sleep mode. That is, the second receiving unit receives the selection input of the transition time from the standby mode in the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode displayed on the display screen 21 by the display control unit 31 to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode. Then, the setting unit 32 accepts the setting (YES in S15). That is, the setting unit 32 sets the sleep mode according to the set contents (S16). Specifically, the setting unit 32 sets the transition time from the standby mode received by the second receiving unit to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode.

Before accepting the setting (NO in S15), if the third accepting unit accepts the display of information at the intervals before and after the expected image formation interval by pressing the keys 44 and 45 (in S17). , YES), the display control unit 31 displays information at intervals before and after the print interval (S18). That is, when the expected printing interval is 5 minutes, the transition time from the standby mode to each of the return priority mode and the energy saving priority mode when the print interval before and after that, for example, 4 minutes or 6 minutes, is set. The information of the above, the information of the power consumption value derived from the transition time and the interval of image formation, and the information of the time required for image formation are derived, and the information of the result is controlled to be displayed. After that, the setting is accepted.

According to such a multifunction device 11, the user can set the sleep mode while grasping how much power can be actually saved and how much the printing time will be. Therefore, according to such a multifunction device 11, it is possible to realize the energy saving intended by the user.

In this case, the configuration further includes a third receiving unit that receives information display at intervals before and after the expected image formation interval. Further, if the display control unit 31 receives the display of information at the intervals before and after the image formation interval expected by the third receiving unit, the return stored in the hard disk 17 at the intervals before and after the image formation interval is restored. It is controlled to display the information on the priority mode and the information on the energy saving priority mode on the display screen 21. Therefore, it is possible to set the energy saving more according to the user's intention.

In the above embodiment, in the energy saving priority mode, the electric power supplied to the heat roller 24 is turned off, and in the return priority mode, the temperature of the heat roller 24 is kept lower than the temperature in the standby mode. The electric power supplied to the roller 24 may be adjusted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the actual results of the transition time information, the power consumption value information, and the time required for image formation in the multifunction device 11 may be reflected in the information stored in the hard disk 17. .. That is, the control unit 12 includes a performance reflection unit that reflects the results of the transition time information, the power consumption value information, and the time information required for image formation in the multifunction device 11 in the information stored in the hard disk 17. To do. By doing so, it is possible to display more realistic information and allow the user to set energy saving.

In the above embodiment, the sleep mode waits at a fourth power consumption different from either the second power consumption or the third power consumption, and if the request for image formation is received, the image formation is performed. The configuration may further include a standby mode that requires a different time from the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode to start. Then, the hard disk 17 stores information regarding the standby mode. The second receiving unit receives a request for selecting one of the return priority mode, the energy saving priority mode, and the standby mode. When the display control unit 31 receives the selection request by the second reception unit, the display control unit 31 displays the information on the return priority mode, the information on the energy saving priority mode, and the information on the standby mode stored in the hard disk 17 on the display unit. Control. The setting unit 32 sets any of the return priority mode, the energy saving priority mode, and the standby mode. With such a configuration, more detailed energy saving settings can be made. Of course, the sleep mode may be configured so that more detailed settings in the sleep mode can be made.

Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration is further provided with a third receiving unit that receives information display at intervals before and after the expected image formation interval in which the input is received by the first receiving unit. , Not limited to this, a configuration may be configured in which a third receiving unit is not provided.

It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed here are exemplary in all respects and are not restrictive in any way. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is particularly effectively used when the realization of energy saving intended by the user is required.

11 Multifunction device, 12 Control unit, 13 Operation unit, 14 Image reading unit, 15 Image forming unit, 16 Paper cassette, 17 Hard disk, 18 Network interface unit, 19 Main storage memory, 21 Display screen, 22 ADF, 23 Fixing unit , 24 thermal rollers, 26 networks, 31 display control unit, 32 setting unit, 41 setting, 42 information display area, 43, 44, 45 keys.

Claims (4)

A standby mode in which the image formation can be started immediately after waiting at the first power consumption and receiving the image formation request, and the standby mode at which the power consumption is less than the first power consumption, and the image formation request is made. If accepted, it is an image forming apparatus having a sleep mode in which it takes a longer time than the standby mode to start image forming.
The sleep mode is a return priority mode in which it takes a longer time than the standby mode to start image formation if it waits with a second power consumption less than the first power consumption and receives a request for image formation. Including an energy saving priority mode in which it takes a longer time than the return priority mode to start image formation if the image formation request is received by waiting at a third power consumption less than the second power consumption.
The image forming apparatus
A fixing part that includes a heating roller that heats up to a predetermined temperature and fixes the toner image on the paper.
A display unit that displays information and
A storage unit that stores information on the return priority mode and information on the energy saving priority mode, and
The first receiving unit that accepts the input of the expected image formation interval,
A display control unit that controls the display of the information about the return priority mode and the information about the energy saving priority mode stored in the storage unit at the interval of image formation.
A second receiving unit that receives a selection input of a transition time from the standby mode in the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode displayed on the display unit by the display control unit to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode. ,
A setting unit for setting a transition time from the standby mode to the return priority mode or the energy saving priority mode received by the second receiving unit is provided.
The storage unit receives information on the return priority mode and information on the energy saving priority mode, such as information on the transition time from the standby mode, information on the power consumption value derived from the transition time and the interval between image formation, and information on the power consumption value. Information on the time required for image formation is memorized,
The image forming apparatus reflects the actual results of the transition time information, the power consumption value information, and the time required for the image forming in the image forming apparatus in the information stored in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus further comprising a unit. Further provided with a third receiving unit for receiving information display at intervals before and after the expected image forming interval for which input is received by the first receiving unit.
If the display control unit receives the display of information at the intervals before and after the image formation interval expected by the third receiving unit, it is stored in the storage unit at the intervals before and after the image formation interval. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the return priority mode and the information regarding the energy saving priority mode are controlled to be displayed on the display unit. In the energy saving priority mode, the electric power supplied to the thermal roller is turned off, and in the return priority mode, the electric power supplied to the thermal roller so as to keep the temperature of the thermal roller lower than the temperature in the standby mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The sleep mode waits at a fourth power consumption different from either the second power consumption or the third power consumption, and if a request for image formation is received, the return priority mode or the return priority mode or the start of image formation is started. It also has a standby mode that requires a different time than any of the energy saving priority modes.
The storage unit stores information about the standby mode and stores information about the standby mode.
The second receiving unit receives a request for selection of the return priority mode, the energy saving priority mode, or the standby mode.
When the display control unit receives the selection request by the second receiving unit, the display control unit receives information about the return priority mode, information about the energy saving priority mode, and information about the standby mode stored in the storage unit. Control to display on the display unit
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the setting unit sets any of the return priority mode, the energy saving priority mode, and the standby mode.

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